Plywood knockdown box



G. H. osGooD 2,005,159

PLYWOOD KNOCKDOW BOX June 18, 1935.

Filed May l, 1954 Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED STATES .PATENTS OFFICE ,t g Y v 2,005,159 i l rLYWooD KNocKDoWN Box GeorgeH, Osgood, Tacoma, Wash. Applimuonv May 1, 1934,seria1 No., 'massi 1 Claim.

This inventionV relates to plywood boxes and more especially to such boxes as may be shipped in knock-down condition from the box factory to the user and may be assembled by him for-use.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a strong and quickly assembled box; which, second, may be quickly knocked down after it has been assembled; third, in which the cover is removably fastened in place; fourth, lin which no glue or nails are used to secure the several parts together; fth, in -which the several sides are interlocked and sixth-,in which unskilled labor may be used in the making and assembling of the box.

I attain these and other objects bythe devices and arrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my improved box assembled and ready for use, a portion of the cover being broken away to reveal the construction; Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of one of the upper corners of the box; Fig. 3 is a plan thereof; Fig. 4 is a plan of the spring'steel clip used for securing the two sides forming a corner together; Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the upper edge of the box showing the means for fastening the cover in place thereon; Fig. 6 is a plan of the spring steel snap used for securing the cover to the sides of the box; Fig. 7 is a plan of the box as shipped in knock-down condition from the box factory; Fig. 8 is a section of the joint between the bottom and one of the sides, when in knockdown condition, and showing one of the staples whereby the sides are secured to the bottom; and

Fig. 9 is a similar veiw thereof, when the said' side is assembled in normal position.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

This box is a variation of that shown in my application for patent for improved knock-down wooden box, led under Serial No. 713,112, wherein all the six sides of the box were secured together by glued tape.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the box comprises a bottom board I, two end boards 2 and 3, two side boards 4 and 5, and a cover 6. All these sides are made of three-ply Veneer wood.

Each edge of the bottom I is provided with tenons 1 formed integral therewith. These tenons are rectangular in form and of substantial breadth, and extend out from the inner line of the bottom I distances equal to the thickness of the side into which each said tenon fits, as hereinafter described. The cover 6 is also of the same size and form as the bottom I and is also provided with similar tenons l extending therefrom. In practice the bottom land vthe cover 6 are similar in every respect.

Each end'2 and 3 of the box is provided with rectangular cuts or mortises 8 on its upper and lower horizontal edges, said `mortises corresponding in number, position and breadth with their complementary tenons l extending from the bot tom l and cover 6, and each is of a depth equal to the thickness of the bottom or Cover which fits into it, The vertical edges of the sides 2-and3 are provided with integral rectangular tenons 9, of substantial breadth, extending out from the inner line of the box a distance equal to the thickvness of the sides 4 `and 5,

The two sides 4 and 5 are each provided with rectangular cuts or mortises 8 on their upper and loweredges, said mortises corresponding in number, position, and width with their complementary tenons 'l on the bottom I and cover 5, and each is of a depth equal to the thickness of the bottom I or cover 6 which fitsV into it. YThe vertical edges of the two sides 4 and 5 are provided with mortises Ill corresponding in number, position and breadth with the complementary tenons 9 on the ends 2 and 3, and each is of a depth equal to the thickness of the said ends 2 and 3.

Thus it will be seen that each side is locked against sliding movement relatively to its contiguous sides by means of the mutual interlocking of the several tenons in their complementary mortises along each of its four sides, and that the edges of the box, though formed of tenon edges from alternate sides of the box, form substantially straight `lines because each tenon extends, from the inner line of the box, a distance equal to the thickness of the adjacent side into which it fits.

Metal staples II secure the ends 2 and 3 and the sides 4 and 5 to the bottom I, each said staple bridging an open space I2 (Figs. 7 and 8) between the contiguous edges of the bottoml I and the said side, such space I2 being equal in width to the depth of the mortise which the staple Il spans. These staples I I are clinched on the inner side of the bottom and of the sides. When the box is to be folded or assembled for use the staples I I are bent at X (Fig. 8) as the side 2 is turned on the corner line of the box so that its mortises 8 are entered by the tenons 1 of the bottom and so metal means which is bendable orflexible in a limited sense, and which strongly attaches the said sides to the bottom against all bursting stress.

Each side 2, 3- 4 and 5 is provided with a vertical slit I3, extending downward from its upper edge and positioned adjacent to each of its upper corners, all said slits being preferably equidistant from the outer corners of the box. The said four sides are attached together, against bursting stress by means-of spring steel clips I4, each such clip being formed substantially as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and having a central right-angle bend at I5 and two inward rectangular hooked ends at I6, said hooked ends being adapted to slide down into the slits I3 and to grip the respective sides; the length of the arms of the clips I4 is such as to t tightly around the corners of the box and into the slits I3, thereby preventing outward movement of either side ofvthebox relatively to the other. l

The cover 6 is secured to the box, against bursting stress, by means of snaps I'I (Figs. 5 and 6), which are shaped similar 4to the clips I4 except that the lower end alone of said snaps is provided with a complete hook I8 similar to the'hooksIG, while the end in Contact with the cover 6 is provided With a simple right-angle bend I9. cover VIi is provided with narrow slots 20 adapted to receive the ends I9 of the snaps I1 and the sides 2, 3, 4 and 5 are provided with coordinated slots or holes 2|. These holes 2| arewider than the slots 20, being adapted` to receive the entire hook I8 ofthe snap I1, whereby'the said snaps are inserted in place. 'I'hese snaps II are also made of spring steel and are operated by irst inserting the hook I 8 in the hole 2| and then raising the snap so The that the hook engages the top side of the hole,

and then springing the bend I9 into the slot 20 in the cover, thereby holding the cover down on the box.

'I'he cover, therefore, may be removed by simply prying the ends I9 of the snaps Il out of the slots 20 in the cover and allowing the said snaps to be swung out of the way. Thus the box may be opened and closed as often as required. When it is desired to knock the box down, the cover is removed, then the fourclips I4 are slid out of the slits I3, thus freeing the sides 2, 3, 4 and 5 from each other; they then may be pressed down ilat, thus bending the staples II. 1

Having, therefore, describedv my invention, what I claim is:-

A plywood box comprising six sides, the corresponding edges of each side being complementarily tenoned and mortised together to prevent relative sliding movement; lthe bottom and four sides being permanently secured together along their contiguous edges in spaced relation to each other by staples spanning the spaces vbetween said parts; each said four sides being provided with two slits extending downward from its top edge and posi- .tioned adjacent its. upperrcorners; four spring steel clips, each clip being bent at right-angles at its center and provided with resilient hooked ends, each vsaid clip being adapted to extend around the corner of the box, when assembled and to have its hooked ends slid down the said slits and adapted to grip the inner and .outer sides thereof; and means for'removably fastening the cover to said four sides.

GEORGE H. OSGOOD. 

